Apparatus for conditioning paper



E. F. DREGER APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING PAPER Jan. 24, 1928. 1,657,073

Filed June 14. 1926 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR W41 21:

I ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1928.

E. F. DREGER APPARATUS FOR CONDITI ONING PAPER Filed June 14. 1926 2 Sheets-$heet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD F. DREGER, OF KENTFIELD, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING PAPER.

Application filed June 14, 1926. Serial No. 116,006.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatuses for conditioning paper, and has for its primary object to provide a novel construction for properly drying and conditioning quantities of paper.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paper conditioning apparatus having satisfactory adjustable means therein for accommodating and treating a number of sheets of pa er of different sizes.

Another ohject of this invention is to provide a paper conditioning apparatus having therein a number of compartments through which equal proportions of air may ass.

P Another object of this invention is to provide a paper conditioning apparatus having therein satisfactory means for shutting off the air from one or more of the compartments located in the apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide a paper conditioning apparatus hav ing therein one or more compartments in which may be supported sheets ofpaper, and satisfactory means for regulating the amount of air admitted to the compartments.

Other advantages and "objects more or less apparent will be pointed out or will present themselves in the description to follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application: v V

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a paper conditioning apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus showing the manner in which the same is constructed; and

Fig. 3 is a reduced sectional view of the fan and its housing taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 represents the side walls of an enclosure of any suitable size or shape having a floor 2 which is provided with a plurality of slotted openings 3 for the passage of air into the enclosure. Located below the floor 2 is an inclined base 2* which provides a space between it and thefloor. Secured to the rear side wall 1 and extending for the full length of the enclosure, is a partition wall 4 which divides the enclosure into two compartments. Extending forwardly from the top portion of the side walls and located in front of the enclosure, are a plurality of wheel guides 5 which are supported at their ends by posts 6. Located above the front of the enclosure are two doors 7, Which are supported on a frame piece 8, and are adapted to move downwardly to close the front port1on of the two compartments. The top of the doors 7 have fastened to them suitable ropes 9 which are provided with counter balancing weights and which move in pulleys 10 to lower or raise the said doors.

Secured to one of the end side Walls in which there is provided a large opening for the passage of air, is afan housing 11, having a circular opening in its front end and a fan 12 supported therein. The fan 12 is held in operating position inside the housing 11 by supporting members 13 and is provided with a pulley 1 1 to which may be attached a belt for driving the fan by any suitable means.

The fan housing 11, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided therein with a number of separated partition plates 15 which extend vertically therein and serve to distribute the air ejected by the fan 12 in an even manner inside the enclosure located between the side walls 1,

the floor 2 and the base 2*.

Hinged on the top of the floor 2 adjacent the slotted openings 3, are a plurality of door members 16, which may be independently closed over the said openings to prevent air from passing therethrough.

Secured to the underneath side of the floor 2, adjacent the openings 3 and projecting downwardly from the said floor, are a plurality of air guides 17 which serve to guide the air, forced by the fan through the housing 11 and the enclosure located beneath the floor 2, through the slotted openings 3.

Extending across the compartments of the main enclosure are a number of rods 18, having wheels 19 rotatably secured to their ends. The wheels rest on the wheel guides 5 or the top of the side walls 1, and are adapted to move with the rods either backwardly or forwardly over the said guides and the tops of the walls.

Supported on the rods 18 by the hooks 20, and adapted to slide over the rods are side pieces 21, which may be moved either toward or awa from each other by the manipulation of t 1e hooks supporting them.

The rods 18 extend through a plurality of cross members 22, which are also adapted to slide along the rods to vary the distance between them and the said cross members are provided with a number of suitable fastening devices 23 to which may be secured a number of sheets of paper 24:, to be conditioned or treated.

In the event different size sheets of paper are to be treated, the cross members 22 with their fastening devices 23, may be moved either toward or away from each other so as permit the proper hangingof the paper on the said devices. The side pieces 21 may be moved over the bars 18 in the same manner so that they become positioned adjacent the ends of the sheets of paper. The openings 3 which are located beyond the side pieces 21 may be closed by the door members 16 so as to prevent air from entering the compartments at points where it does not strike the paper to be conditioned or treated.

In operation, the .sheets of paper to be treated are hung on the fastening devices 23, after the cross members have been firstly adjusted on the rods 18. The side pieces 21 are moved on the rods 18 until they hang adjacent the ends of thesheets of paper, and the said rods together with the side leces, the cross members 22, the fastening evices 23 and the sheets of paper 24:, are moved into the compartments by rolling the wheels 19 over the wheel guides 5 and the top of the side walls 1.

The doors 7 are then lowered to close the front of the main enclosure or compartments, and the fan 12 is rotated by transferring energy to it by any suitable means. The air forced by the fan through the housing 11 enters the enclosure located beneath the floor 2 and the base 2*,and proceeds to the guide members 17 which guide it through the openings 3 not having the door members 16 closed over them. The air is forced into the compartments as explained until the paper is properly dried and treated, after which it is removed by withdrawing it from the compartments and unfastening the fastening devices therefrom. It is evident that the paper conditioning apparatus herein shown and described may be built to provideany number of compartments. It is also evident that the construction shown and described herein may be embodied in different forms and may assume other shapes. '1 therefore do not desire to be limited to the exact construction described herein, but desire my invention to comprising, a plurality of compartments having openings therein for the admittance of air, a plurality of independentlyadjustable means for closing one or more of the openings, whereby the air maybe directed to certain compartments or to a certain partion of any of the compartments, a fan for forcing air into the compartments through the openings, and means removably located inside the compartments for supporting a quantity of paper.

2. An apparatus for conditioning paper comprising, a plurality of compartments having openings therein for the admittance of air, a plurality of independently adjustable means for closing one or more of the openings, whereby the air may be directed to certain compartments or to a certain portion of any of the compartments,'-1neaus locatcd adjacent the openings for guiding air through the openings, a fan for forcing air into the compartments through the openings, and means remorably located inside the compartments for supporting a quantity of paper.

3. An apparatus for conditioning paper comprising, an enclosure having therein a plurality of openings for the admittance of air, a plurality of projecting guide members located adjacent the openings for directing air through thc openings, a plurality of independently adjustable door members located adjacent the openings for closing one or more of the openings whereby the air may be directed to a certain portion of the enclosure, a fan for forcing air into the enclosure through one or more of the openings, and means removably located inside the enclosure for supporting a quantity of paper.

4. An apparatus for conditioning paper comprising, an enclosure divided into one or more compartments and provided with a pluralit of openings for the admittance of air, a p urality of independently adjustable means for closing one or more of the openings whereby a quantity of air may be directed to certain compartments or to a certain portion of any of the compartments, a fan for forcing air into the enclosure through one or more of the openings, a plurality of supporting rods extending across the compartments, a pair of wheels attached to the ends of the supporting rods and adapted to rest on the top of the enclosure, whereby the supporting rods may be withdrawn from the compartments, and a plurality of fastening devices adjustably located on the supporting rods for supporting a number of sheets of paper.

5. An apparatus for conditioning paper comprising, an enclosure divided into one or more compartments and rovided with a plurality of openings for t 1e admittance of air, a fan for forcing air into the enclosure through the openings, a plurality of independently adjustable door members located adjacent the openings for closing one or more of the openings whereby a quantity of air may be directed to certain compartments or to a certain portion of any of the compartments, a plurality of supporting rods ill) extending across the compartments, :1 pair of wheels attached to each of the ends of the supporting rods and adapted to move on the top of the enclosure whereby the supporting rods may be Withdrawn from the compart ments, and a plurality of fastening devices adjustably located on the supporting rods for supporting a number of sheets of paper.

6. An apparatus for conditioning paper comprising, an enclosure having one or more compartments therein and a plurality of openings for the admittance of air, a fan for forcing air into the enclosure through the openings, a plurality of independently adjustable door members located adjacent the openings for closing one or more of the openings whereby a quantity of air may be directed to certain compartments or to a certain portion of any of the compartments, a plurality of guide members located adjacent the openings for directing the air therethrough, a plurality of supporting rods extending across the compartments,- a pair of wheels attached to each of the ends of the rodsand adapted to move on the top of the enclosure whereby the supporting rods may be withdrawn from the compartments, and a plurality of fastening devices adjustably located on the rods for supporting a number of sheets of paper.

7. An apparatus for conditioning paper comprising, an enclosure having one or more Y compartments therein and a plurality of openings for the admittance ofair, a fan for forcing air into the enclosure through the openings, a plurality of door members lo cated adjacent the openings whereby one or more of the openings may be closed, a plurality of guide members located adjacent the openings for directing the air therethrou gh, a plurality of supporting rods extending across the compartments, a pair of wheels at tached to each of the ends of the rods and adapted to move on the top of the enclosure whereby the supporting rods may/be withdrawn from the compartments, a plurality of fastening devices i adjustably located on the rods for supporting a number of sheets of paper and a plurality of side pieces adjustahly attached on the rods for confining the air admitted through the openings to at definite area.

8. An apparatus for conditioning paper comprising, an enclosure havin a plurality of openings therein for the a ittance of air, a fan for forcing air into the enclosure through the openings, adjustable means adapted to be moved into or out of the enclosure for supporting a number of sheets of paper and a plurality of side pieces adjustably supported inside the enclosure whereby the air admitted to the inside of the enclosure may be confined to a definite area.

9. An apparatus for conditioning paper comprising, an enclosure having a plurality of openings therein for the admittance of air, a fan for forcing air into the enclosure through the openings, adjustable means removably located inside the enclosure for supporting sheets of paper of different sizes, a plurality of side pieces adjustably and removably positioned in the enclosure for confining the air admitted through the openings to a definite area, and means whereby the front of the enclosure may be closed when the apparatus is in operation.

10. An apparatus for conditioning paper comprising, an enclosure having a plurality of openings therein for the admittance of air, a door adapted to be moved to open or close the front of the enclosure, a fan for forcing air into the enclosure through the openings, adjustable means removably located inside the enclosure for supporting sheets of paper of diiferent sizes, a plurality of side pieces adjustably and removably positioned in the enclosure for confining the air admitted through the openings to a definite area, and means for preventing the air from entering one or more of the said open ings.

11. An apparatus for conditioning paper comprising an enclosure having therein a plurality of openings for the admittance of air, a plurality of independently adjustable means for closing one or more of the said openings whereby a quantity of air may be directed to a certain portion of the enclosure,

a fan for forcing air into the enclosure through the openings, and means removably located inside the enclosure for supporting a quantity of paper.

EDWARD F. DREGER. 

